Orthopedic shoe



March 3l, 1931. A POSNER 1,798,807

ORTHOPEDIG S HOE Filed Jan. 22, 1950 2 SheetS--Sheei'l l /l/fa/mm Posner AWQRNEY.

March 31, 1931. A PQSNER 1,798,807

ORTHOPEDIG SHOE Filed Jan. 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENKTOR braham Posner' ATTORNEY the heel of the shoe on 35 also prevalent with grown ups.

Patented Mar. 31, 1931 PATENT OFFICE .ABRAHAM IPOSNER, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK ORTHOPEDIC SHOE Application mea January 2z, leso. serial no. 422,581.

This invention relates to orthopedic shoes for all persons of any agek whereby malformations of the feet may be prevented and even corrected without discomfort.

`5 The key-stone bone of the foot is the os calcis. Changes in the axial alignment of this bone will secondarily involve the other bones of the foot and disrupt its integrity as a weight bearing organ.

Attached by ligaments to the os calcis is the bone immediately on top of it and anterior to it known as the astragalus. It is on top of this astragalus that the tibia and fibula bones of the leg res i. Immediately adjacent to the astragalus and forward thereof on the inner side of the foot is the scaphoid. The

'so called longitudinal arch of the foot that is on the inner side of the foot is formed by this archway underneath the astragalus and t0 scaphoid bones and by the internal cuneiform bone and first metatarsal bone.

The normal function of the foot based on a proper tread of the os calcis will cause the forepart of the foot to tread straight ahead $5 slightly inclined inward. The weight bearing is on the outer side from the heel to the ball and is accentuated on the outside or `neuter border of the os calcis. This is often reflected in a wearing down of the surface of the rear side of the heel.

Pronation or a tendency towards weak foot is very common with children, and of course weak foot or flat foot conditions are However,

this tendency towards pronation or weak foot is evidenced by a rotating outward of the heel bone or oscalcis resulting in a secondary motion, that of the astragalus and scaphoid 40 rotating downward and'inward and consequently throwing the forepart of the foot outward instead of straight ahead with an inclination inward. To relieve this condition or prevent pronation or a tendency toward 5 weak foot, the introduction of a wedge of a thickness proportionate to the degree of pronation is inserted in the inner border of the heel. This wedge has a tendency to lift up the inner part of the os calcis1 straightening it out and thus avoiding the rotation outward of the os calcs when the os calcis is brought in this straight alignment position, the astragalus and scaphoid assume their correct positions and the forepart of the foot treads straight with a tendency inward as it properly should.

If this so-called balance or uniformity could be maintained merely by the introduction of a Wedge as outlined above, the difficulty would be overcome but, as noted above, the natural tendency is to walk on the outer surface of the heel. By the introduction of the wedge, this weight bearing on the outer side is more accentuated and if carried to extreme, that is to say, if excessive wedging is provided, to wit: to a degree greater than in the degree of so-called supination, the opposite is likely to occur. Accordingly, it becomes necessary to introduce in the outer tread surface of the heel, a substance of greater durability than leather which will ofiset the tendency to wear down the outer side of the heel, thus bringing about a uniformity in wear. The introduction of this substance in addition to maintaining this uniformity of wear and preventing excessive correction also has a tendency of establishing a line of resistance throwing the said balancing to the outer side of the heel where it belongs. It is to be borne in mind when we refer to the wearing down ofthe shoe on the outer side of the vheel that what is really meant is wearing down toward the outer side of the back of the heel. i

The introduction of this substance on the outer side of a durability greater than that of leather bringing about a uniformity of wear of the heel will help to maintain the same degree of wedging from the iirst day a person wears the shoe until and through the life of 90 view of the corrective feature of the shoe. In other words there is avoided the tendency of the degree of correction changing after the shoe is worn when this re-enforcement is put into the shoe.

Hence, one of the objects of the invention is to provide a shoe in the structure of which is incorporated scientific means to cause the heel to assume its natural physiological position if the feet be weakened or abnormal; or to prevent the development of such conditions if the feet are normal, and in combination therewith to provide reinforcement for the rear outer tread surface of the heel of the shoe to retard wear thereon and thus maintain uni-Y formity of wear on the entire heel tread.

A further feature is in the provision of means to support the tarsal bones and joints without interfering' with the desirable flexibility of the shank of the shoe.

Another purpose is to produce a shoe having a permanent support for the natural development and functions of the metatarsal arch, but without disgurement or noticeable change from the usual appearance of the shoe.

These important purposes are accomplished by the novel construction and combination of parts constituting the structure of the shoe as hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings complementary to the description, and in which Fig. 1, is a perspective view of a shoe for youths made in conformity with the invention.

Fig. 2, is an enlargedpartial bottom plan a shoe as seen during construction, parts being broken away to show the same.

F ig. 3, is a perspective view showing the supporting element ,in detail. Y

Fig. 4, is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the sole elements, the section being taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Figi, is a rear elevational view of the shoe with heel attached.

Fig. 6, isa side elevational view of a shoe for young children embodying the invention.

Fig. 7, is abcttom plan view of the same, part of the sole being broken away, as in Fig. 2.

lThe shoe shown in Figs. 1 to 5 consists of the usual uppers 10, vamp 11, outer sole 12 and heel lifts 13 on the sole.

An insole 14 is extended the entrelength of the shoe and intermediate the soles 12 and 1 14 lis Va comminuted cork insert or filler 15 reaching from the toe to a point below the instep where it adj oins a ller strip 16 of leather extending to the forward edge of the heel.

Another' insert 17, shown in detail in Fig. 3, is composed of a strip of leather having its outer edge 18 curved. in conformity with the contour of the heel and an inner straight edge 19 skived to a feather thickness, as at 20, and disposed so as to cover over half of the width of the heel, directly upon the inreaching attached edges of the upper and sole 14 as best seen lin Fig. 2.

Extending forwardly from the offset 21 of the heel portion of the insert is an integral strap element 22, reduced in thickness and disposed over the ller strip 16 to which it is cemented.

The filler 16 is skived from the centre, transversely of the shoe, to feather edges and its purpose is to permit full flexation of the shoe when walking.

A support pad is continued from the concavely skived strap, the same being disposed in a recess 25 formed by the ller 15 and insole 14, one edge of the pad being a continuation of the straight edge 19 and the thickness of the pad is preferably slightly in excess of the filler 15, as best seen in Fig. 4, its disposition beingdirectly below the shanks of the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones.

When the heel lifts v13V are secured in place on the shoe the rear portion20 ofthe element tilts the heel in the desired manner as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

In the top lift of the shoe, as seen in Figs. 1 and-5 are insertsv 26 of libre or other hard wearing material and these inserts or plugs may be inserted in a counterbore in the to .Lift before it is attached to remainder of theeel.

The infants shoe, seen in Figs. 6 and 7 is substantially of'like construction, with the exception that the outer sole 12is extended to contact directly with the surface trodden upon by reason ofits being applied over `the unitary support elements 20-22- 23', and the heel extended downwardly on a slight bevel formed by skiving its forward portion.

While certain preferred embodiments of this device have been shown and described, it will be understood that changes'ink the form, arrangements, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made withoutdepart` ing from the scope of the invention as delined in the appended claims. 5 Having thus described my invention, wha I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An orthopedic shoe having inner and outer soles, a flexible cushion .pad therebetween at the forward part `of the shoe, a. heel, a wedge-shaped element combined therewith at the inner side of the shoe, a' flexible strap extending forwardly from said element centrally of the shoe, and a metatarsal support atthe .end ofthe said strap entering a recess in said pad below the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones. r 2. An orthopedic shoe having inner and outer soles, a flexible cushion pad therebetween at the forward part of the shoe,'a heel, a wedge-shaped' element .combined therewith at the inner side of the shoe, :7.3130

iexble strep extending forwardly from said element centrally of the shoe, said strap presenting e concave upper surface, a transverse plate xed thereon to seat against the inner sole, and an elongated element integral with said strap, and wedge-shaped element, to extend into a recess below the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones.

Signed at New York, n the county and State of New York, this 24th day of December, 1929.

ABRAHAM POSNER. 

